Official IAATO statement on sinking of Explorer

The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has issued an official statement summing up the reported events of the M/V Explorer incident, indicating that there is still some uncertainty as to whether or not that ship has actually sunk. Apparently, there were no direct eye witnesses of the sinking, and so it might still be floating - upside down - and thus pose a serious navigational hazard.

All member vessels are requested to keep a keen lookout around the position of 62° 23' 32" S, 57° 16' 09" W, the position from which the distress call was issued. Also, any flotsam or debris on beaches in the area should be reported.

All the passengers and ship's crew have been put ashore on King George Island, where they were received in several scientific stations there and subsequently flown out by chartered plane to Punta Arenas, Chile.

One day after the evacuation and rescue of Explorer's crew and passengers, the Oceanwide Expeditions vessel M/V Professor Molchanov patrolled the area and reported an oil spill of approximately 1 square nm around 62° 24' S 57° 12' W.

The M/V Explorer was stated to burn marine gas oil (MGO) as fuel oil and it is hoped and expected that this fuel will disperse quickly without serious adverse effects to the environment.